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The Danger of Salt and Water Infiltration |
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An inscription of Ramesses II in 1999 with damaged area highlighted. The surface has buckled, but is mostly intact. |
The reliefs and inscriptions in the Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak temple are decaying rapidly. This is caused by groundwater containing salts which attack the surface of the stone, destroying the reliefs. This process is now dramatically apparent in the southern half of the Hypostyle Hall. Along the west wall, Ramesses II's reliefs had been in good condition. But since a series of disastrous flash floods struck the Luxor area in the fall of 1994, large patches along the bottom of the walls are covered with salts which are rapidly obliterating the decoration. |
